Seat configuration for a watercraft

ABSTRACT

A small watercraft has a longitudinally extending, straddle type seat. A rear deck of the watercraft is disposed generally behind the seat, and the upper surface of the rear deck is vertically higher than the upper surface of the seat. A front wall of the rear deck comprises a back support adjacent a rear end of the seat. The rear end of the seat is vertically movable from a position wherein the upper surface of the rear seat is generally lower than the upper surface of the rear deck to a position wherein the upper surfaces of the rear seat and rear deck are generally aligned. In some embodiments, a rear seat portion moves relative to a front seat portion. The rear seat is configured so that when it is vertically higher than the front seat portion, a front edge of the rear seat comprises a back support for a rider seated on the front seat portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to the field of small watercraft and, more particularly, to a small watercraft having an adjustable seat.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Personal watercraft have become popular in recent years. This type of watercraft is sporting in nature; it is easily maneuverable and accelerates quickly. Personal watercraft today commonly carry between one to four riders, which straddle a longitudinally-extending seat in a tandem fashion.

[0005] In some instances, a back support or back rest has been provided for one or more passengers of a personal watercraft. Such a back rest usually extends upwardly from the seat, and can interrupt the tandem seating fashion. This limits the seating capacity of the watercraft and can cause discomfort to riders seated behind the back support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a personal watercraft seat providing a back support for a rider without reducing the number of passengers who can sit on the seat and without interfering with passengers behind the back support.

[0007] In accordance with one aspect, a personal watercraft is provided comprising a hull having a lower portion and an upper deck portion. An engine compartment is defined within the hull. The deck portion of the hull has a longitudinally extending pedestal portion having a straddle type seat disposed thereon. The seat comprises a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion has a plurality of seat positions defined therein, each seat position being configured to accommodate at least one rider. The seat has a hinge member adjacent a front end of the front portion and is rotatable about the hinge member between a first position and a second position. An actuator is provided and comprises an actuator cylinder and a piston rod. The actuator is configured to move the piston rod between a rod first position and a rod second position. The rod is coupled to the seat and is adapted to move the seat between the first position and the second position as the rod is moved relative to the actuator. The upper deck portion comprises a rear deck generally behind the rear seat portion, which rear deck has an upper surface that is vertically higher than an upper surface of a rear end of the rear seat portion when the straddle seat is in the first position. The upper surface of the rear end of the rear seat portion is generally even with the upper surface of the rear deck when the straddle seat is in the second position.

[0008] In accordance with another aspect, a watercraft is provided comprising a hull having a lower portion and a deck portion. The deck portion has a control mast, a longitudinally extending pedestal, and a straddle type seat arranged generally above the pedestal. The seat comprises a front seat portion and a rear seat portion. The rear seat portion is both vertically and tiltingly movable relative to the front seat portion.

[0009] In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a watercraft comprises a hull having a lower portion and a deck portion. The deck portion has a control mast, a longitudinally extending pedestal, and a straddle type seat arranged generally above the pedestal. The seat comprises a front seat portion and a rear seat portion. The rear seat portion is tiltingly movable relative to the front seat portion.

[0010] In accordance with a still further aspect, a small watercraft comprises a hull having a control portion and a rider's area. The rider's area comprises a longitudinally extending straddle-type seat comprising a front seat portion and a rear seat portion. The rear seat portion is movable relative to the front seat portion between a first configuration and a second configuration. The rear seat portion is also adapted so that a rider can ride the watercraft seated on the rear seat portion both when the rear seat portion is in the first configuration and when the rear seat portion is in the second configuration.

[0011] In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a watercraft comprises a hull having a lower hull and an upper deck. The deck has a seating area with a seat comprising a first seat portion and a second seat portion. The first seat portion is mechanically coupled to the deck so that the first seat portion is selectively movable independent of the second seat portion between a first position and a second position relative to the deck.

[0012] Further aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings of preferred embodiments, which embodiments are intended to illustrate and not to limit the invention. The drawings contain the following figures:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a side view of a personal watercraft having certain features and aspects as described herein, showing some features and aspects in phantom, and showing a rear seat portion in two different positions;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a top view of the watercraft of FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a partial side view of an embodiment of a watercraft seat configuration, showing certain structural features of the watercraft in phantom;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a cut-away perspective view of a portion of the watercraft of FIG. 3;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a partial side view of another embodiment of a watercraft seat configuration, showing certain structural features of the watercraft in phantom, and showing a seat of the watercraft in two positions;

[0019]FIG. 6 is a cut-away perspective view of a portion of the watercraft of FIG. 5;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a partial side view of yet another embodiment of a watercraft seat configuration, showing certain structural features of the watercraft in phantom, and showing a rear seat portion in three different positions;

[0021]FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of the rear seat portion of FIG. 7;

[0022]FIG. 9 is a cut-away perspective view of a portion of the watercraft of FIG. 7, showing the rear seat portion in two positions; and

[0023]FIG. 10 is a partial side view of another embodiment of a watercraft seat configuration, showing certain structural features of the watercraft in phantom, and showing a rear seat portion in two positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] With initial reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a small watercraft 20 includes an elongate hull 22 having a longitudinal axis 24 and being formed by a lower hull section 26 and a deck section 28. The hull and deck sections 26, 28 are preferably formed from a strong and lightweight material such as, for example, a molded fiberglass reinforced resin. The lower hull section 26 and the deck section 28 are fixed to each other around their peripheral edges 30 in any suitable manner. The watercraft 20 is configured to float in a body of water 32, with the water generally engaging the lower hull 26. The lower hull 26 is configured to encourage and accommodate movement of the watercraft 20 in a forwardly direction through the body of water 32.

[0025] An engine compartment 34 is enclosed between the deck 28 and the lower hull 26. An engine preferably is positioned within the engine compartment. The engine preferably is configured to drive a rotating drive shaft which, in turn, drives a jet propulsion unit 36. The jet propulsion unit is generally arranged toward a stem of the watercraft 20, and is configured to pressurize water from the body of water 32 and direct the pressurized water rearwardly so as to propel the watercraft 20 generally forwardly. The jet propulsion unit 36 includes a steering nozzle 40 which focuses the flow of pressurized water in a desired direction so as to effectuate steering of the watercraft 20.

[0026] The watercraft deck section 28 includes a bow portion 42, a control mast 44 and a rider's area 46. The bow portion 42 slopes upwardly toward the control mast 44. The control mast 44 extends upwardly from the bow portion 42 and supports a steering handle assembly 48. The steering handle assembly 48 is operatively connected to the jet propulsion unit steering nozzle 40 so as to control steering of the watercraft 20. The control mast 44 and steering handle assembly 48 also carry a variety of watercraft controls and gauges such as, for example, a throttle control, a start switch, a lanyard switch, a fuel gauge, and a speedometer. Other controls and gauges can be disposed in the control mast area so as to be easily viewed and controlled by a rider.

[0027] Behind the control mast 44, the deck 28 includes a longitudinally-extending pedestal 50 which preferably is formed as part of the deck. A straddle-type seat 60 is disposed atop the pedestal 56. A pair of raised side gunnels 62 extend adjacent the peripheral edge 30 of the watercraft 20 in the rider's area 46. Footwells 64 are formed along either side of the pedestal 50 between the pedestal 50 and the gunnels 62. The footwells 64 are sized to accommodate the lower legs and feet of riders straddling the seat 60.

[0028] As just discussed, the straddle type seat 60 preferably extends longitudinally along the hull atop the pedestal 50. With reference also to FIG. 3, the seat 60 comprises a front portion 66 and a rear portion 70 that are formed separately from one another, but cooperate with one another to form the seat 60. Alternatively, the seat 60 can be formed of a single unit. The seat typically incorporates a first rider section 72, a second rider section 74, and a third rider section 76. The rider sections are separated by humps or protrusions 78 which assist the riders in maintaining their longitudinal position on the seat 60.

[0029] With reference also to FIG. 4, the gunnels 62 terminate in upwardly inclined side decks 80. Each side deck 80 includes an inner side wall 82, which extends generally upwardly from the footwell 64 to an upper surface 84 of the associated side deck 80. A portion of the upper surface 84 of the side deck 82 is disposed vertically higher than an upper surface 88 of the rear seat portion 70. A portion of each inner side wall 82 is disposed adjacent the rear seat portion 70. The inner side wall 82 can help support the legs of a rider seated in the third rider section 76.

[0030] The side deck 80 transitions into a rear deck 90, which extends transversely across at least a portion of the watercraft deck 28 generally behind the seat 60. An upper surface 92 of the rear deck 90 is disposed vertically higher than the upper surface 88 of the rear seat portion 70. The upper surfaces 84, 92 of the side deck 80 and rear deck 90 smoothly transition into one another.

[0031] A back support portion 94 of the rear deck 90 comprises a generally upwardly extending surface that is formed immediately adjacent the rear seat portion 70. A rider seated in the third rider section 76 can utilize the back support 94 as a back rest while riding on the watercraft 20. The back support 94 can be padded if desired. In the illustrated embodiment, the back support 94 is generally contoured to complementarily engage a rider's back. A portion of the back support 94 is disposed partly to the sides of the rear seat portion 70. In another embodiment, the sides of the rear seat portion are open.

[0032] With reference specifically to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a lower deck portion 96 is disposed at the stern of the watercraft 20 generally below the rear deck 90. A storage space 98 is defined between the rear deck 90 and the lower deck portion 96. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage space 98 is generally open; however, in another embodiment, the storage space 98 can be enclosed by a latch cover or the like.

[0033] In another embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, a hinge or pivot member 100 is provided in a forward portion of the seat 60. The front and rear seat portions 66, 70 are connected to one another so that the entire seat 60 is rotatable about the pivot member 100. In this arrangement, the seat 60 moves between a first position, indicated as position A, to a second position, indicated as position B. In position A, the rear deck 90 provides a back support 94 for the seat, as discussed above. When the seat 60 is in position B, the upper surface 88 of the rear seat 70 is at substantially the same level as the upper surfaces 84, 92 of the rear deck 90 and side decks 80.

[0034] This arrangement allows the elevation of a rider sitting on the rear seat portion 70 to be raised relative to the elevation of a rider sitting on the front seat portion 66. Also, with the upper surface 88 of the seat generally aligned with the upper surface 92 of the rear and/or side deck, a rider can recline across both the seat 60 and the rear deck 90 so that the rear deck and side decks can function as a sun deck for the riders.

[0035] The seat 60 can be rotated between positions A and B using any known means. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a pneumatic actuator 110 automatically raises and lowers the seat 60 in response to a rider input. The pneumatic actuator 110 comprises a pneumatic cylinder 112 and a piston rod 114. The piston rod 114 is movable relative to the cylinder 112. The cylinder 112 preferably is fit within the engine compartment 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the cylinder 112 is rigidly mounted within the engine compartment 34. In other embodiments, the cylinder 112 can be hingedly connected to the hull 22 so that the cylinder can pivot as the rod 114 is raised and lowered.

[0036] The piston rod 114 extends upwardly through an opening 116 in the pedestal 50 and into contact with a bottom surface 118 of the rear seat portion 70. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a series of stays 120 are mounted at the top of the cylinder 112 and around the piston rod 114 to provide lateral support for the rod 114 so that it remains properly aligned. The piston rod 114 can be attached to the rear seat portion 70 in any known manner. For example, the rod 114 can be rigidly secured to the seat 70, or the rod can be slidingly attached thereto.

[0037] A source of pressurized air or other gas powers the pneumatic actuator 110. The source of pressurized air preferably is powered by the engine. It is to be understood that any type of actuator such as, for example, a hydraulic actuator, an electric motor, or a manually-operable mechanical actuator can appropriately be used.

[0038] The actuator 110 can be controlled in any known manner. For example, a controller can be disposed on or adjacent the steering handle or control mast so as to be conveniently operated by a rider steering the watercraft. Alternatively or in addition to positioning a controller on the control mast, a controller can be placed on the side of the pedestal adjacent either the front seat portion or the rear seat portion. In this manner, a controller can be accessible to a passenger other than the rider that is steering the watercraft. It is to be understood that, if more than one controller are provided, a lockout mechanism can also be provided so that, if the lockout mechanism is actuated, only one of the controllers will be operable.

[0039] The actuator 110 can be configured to automatically move the seat 60 between only positions A and B, or to any position therebetween. In some embodiments, the actuator 110 is configured to move the seat 60 upwardly beyond position B so that the upper surface 88 of the rear seat portion 70 is above the rear deck 90.

[0040] In another embodiment, the rear seat portion 70 is movable relative to the front seat portion 66. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7-9, the front and rear seat portions 66, 70 are formed separately from one another. Also, the rear seat portion 70 is supported independently of the front seat portion 66. A pneumatic actuator 110 is disposed within the engine compartment 34 and a piston rod 114 of the actuator 110 is operatively connected to the rear seat portion 70 so as to vertically move the rear seat portion 70 from position A to a position C.

[0041] With reference specifically to FIGS. 7 and 8, the rear seat portion 70 comprises a base plate 130 and a seat 132. The piston rod 114 is rigidly attached to the base plate 130. In the illustrated embodiment, a rear hinge 134 connects the base plate 130 to the seat 132 so that the base plate 130 and seat 132 can pivot relative to one another. A front linkage 136 guides and restricts this pivoting movement. The linkage 136 comprises a first pivot point 138 on the base plate 130 and a second pivot point 140 on the seat 132. First and second rods 142, 144 extend from the first and second pivot points 138, 140, respectively, and are rotatably attached to one another at a center pivot 146. It is to be understood that a single linkage 136 can be employed, or a pair of identical linkages 136 can be disposed on either side of the longitudinal center line 24.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 7, when the piston rod 114 is retracted, the rear seat portion 70 is at position A, so that the front and rear seat portions 66, 70 are generally at the same level and the back support 94 is provided between the upper surface 88 of the rear seat portion 70 and the upper surface 92 of the rear deck 90. The piston rod 114 extends upwardly to move the rear seat portion 70 from position A to position C so that the upper surface 88 of the rear seat is generally aligned with the upper surface 92 of the rear deck 90. In this configuration, a front edge 150 of the rear seat portion 70 can at least partially act as a back support for a rider seated on the front seat portion 66.

[0043] The rear seat 132 can be tilted about the hinge 134 from position C to a position D. The linkage 136 extends as the seat 132 is tilted. The front edge 150 of the rear seat 132 preferably is padded and functions as a back support for a rider seated on the front seat portion 66. As shown, the front edge 150 is contoured to generally complementarily engage a rider's back. In another embodiment, the front edge 150 of the rear seat 132 comprises a generally vertical surface also configured to engage a rider's back.

[0044] In one embodiment, a detent or lock is provided on the linkage 136 to releasably hold the rear seat portion 70 in a desired tilt position. The rider manually tilts the rear seat 132 to a desired position and engages the lock or detent to hold the rear seat 132 in place. It is to be understood, however, that any type of actuator or system can be used to tilt the rear seat and hold the seat in a desired position. For example, a user-actuated crank, electric motor, or hydraulic or pneumatic actuator can be used to tilt the seat.

[0045] The hinge 134 and linkage 136 of the illustrated embodiment represent only one configuration of a mechanical coupling that allows the seat 132 to move relative to the base plate 130. It is to be understood that any type or configuration of mechanical coupling can connect these components so that they move relative to one another. For example, linkages may connect the seat 132 and base plate 130 at both their front and rear ends. Such linkages can cooperate so that the seat 132 follows any desired course when being moved between postions. Other mechanical couplings that can be employed include, for example, a telescoping guide member, a track, a rack and pinion, and/or actuators such as hydraulic or pneumatic actuators.

[0046] It is also to be understood that, in other embodiments, the rear seat portion 70 can be connected to the pedestal 50 and/or front seat portion 66 via a mechanical coupling such as a linkage, track or the like. In this manner, the rear seat portion and associated mechanical coupling can be configured so that when the actuator lifts the rear seat portion 70, the rear seat portion simultaneously moves vertically and tilts in any desired manner.

[0047] It is still further to be understood that the front seat portion 66 can employ apparatus such as that described above in connection with the rear seat portion 70 so that the front seat portion 66 can be moved relative to the rear seat portion 70 and the pedestal 50.

[0048] With next reference to FIG. 10, in another embodiment, the rear seat portion 170 is rotatable relative to the front seat portion 166 so that the rear seat 170 selectively functions as a back support for a rider seated on the front seat portion 166. The rear seat portion 170 is formed separately from the front seat portion 166 and, as shown in FIG. 10, can be moved from position A to a position E. At position E, the rear seat 170 is arranged so that a rider in the front seat portion 166 can lean backwardly against the rear seat 170, but remain in a seated position.

[0049] The rear seat 170 preferably is attached to the pedestal via a hinge or linkage configured so that the seat can be moved as shown in FIG. 10. As with the embodiments discussed above, a lock or detent mechanism selectively locks the seat 170 in place. Rotation of the seat can be accomplished manually or, in other embodiments, any manner of actuator can be used.

[0050] It is to be understood that the principles and aspects discussed above can be applied to various types of watercraft having various seating configurations. For example, a watercraft having a bench-type or other type of seat can exhibit aspects described above with reference to the straddle-type seating arrangement.

[0051] Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while a number of variations of the invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of this invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or subcombinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be defined by the claims that follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A personal watercraft comprising a hull having a lower portion and an upper deck portion, an engine compartment defined within the hull, the deck portion of the hull having a longitudinally extending pedestal portion having a straddle type seat disposed thereon, the seat comprising a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion having a plurality of seat positions defined therein, each seat position configured to accommodate at least one rider, the seat having a hinge member adjacent a front end of the front portion and being rotatable about the hinge member between a first position and a second position, an actuator comprising an actuator cylinder and a piston rod, the actuator configured to move the piston rod between a rod first position and a rod second position, the rod being coupled to the seat and adapted to move the seat between the first position and the second position as the rod is moved relative to the actuator, the upper deck portion comprising a rear deck generally behind the rear seat portion, the rear deck having an upper surface that is vertically higher than an upper surface of a rear end of the rear seat portion when the straddle seat is in the first position, and the upper surface of the rear end of the rear seat portion is generally even with the upper surface of the rear deck when the straddle seat is in the second position.
 2. The watercraft of claim 1 additionally comprising a lower deck portion arranged generally below the rear deck, and a storage compartment is provided between the rear deck and the lower deck portion.
 3. A watercraft comprising a hull having a lower portion and a deck portion, the deck portion having a control mast, a longitudinally extending pedestal, and a straddle type seat arranged generally above the pedestal, the seat comprising a front seat portion and a rear seat portion, the rear seat portion being both vertically and tiltingly movable relative to the front seat portion.
 4. The watercraft of claim 3, wherein the rear seat portion is supported independently of the front seat portion.
 5. The watercraft of claim 3, wherein the rear seat portion is vertically movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein the watercraft additionally comprises a rear deck disposed generally rearwardly of the seat, the rear deck having an upper surface, and an upper surface of the rear seat is vertically lower than an upper surface of the rear deck when the rear seat portion is in the first position.
 6. The watercraft of claim 5, wherein the rear deck comprises a generally upwardly-inclined surface disposed adjacent a rear end of the rear seat portion when the rear seat portion is in the first position.
 7. The watercraft of claim 6, wherein the upwardly inclined surface is generally contoured to complementarily engage and support a rider's back when the rider is seated on the rear seat portion when the rear seat portion is in the first position.
 8. The watercraft of claim 5, wherein the upper surface of the rear seat portion is generally aligned with the upper surface of the rear deck when the rear seat portion is in the second position.
 9. The watercraft of claim 3 additionally comprising an actuator configured to vertically move the rear seat portion.
 10. The watercraft of claim 9 additionally comprising a controller configured to control the actuator.
 11. The watercraft of claim 9, wherein the actuator comprises a pneumatic actuator.
 12. The watercraft of claim 9, wherein the rear seat portion is rigidly connected to the actuator.
 13. The watercraft of claim 12, wherein the rear seat portion comprises a base plate and a seat cushion, and the base plate and seat cushion are pivotally connected to each other by a hinge.
 14. The watercraft of claim 13, wherein the hinge is disposed toward a rear end of the seat, and the seat cushion and base plate are also connected to each other through a linkage.
 15. The watercraft of claim 14, wherein the linkage comprises a first member and a second member, the first and second members being pivotably connected to one another, the first member being hingedly connected to the base plate, and the second member being hingedly connected to the seat cushion.
 16. The watercraft of claim 13, wherein the base plate is rigidly connected to the actuator.
 17. A watercraft comprising a hull having a lower portion and a deck portion, the deck portion having a control mast, a longitudinally extending pedestal, and a straddle type seat arranged generally above the pedestal, the seat comprising a front seat portion and a rear seat portion, the rear seat portion being tiltingly movable relative to the front seat portion.
 18. The watercraft of claim 17, wherein the rear seat portion comprises a base plate, a seat member, and a hinge member disposed therebetween so that the base plate is pivotably connected to the seat member.
 19. The watercraft of claim 18, wherein the seat member is tiltable between a first position and a second postion, and an upper surface of the rear seat portion is generally aligned with an upper surface of the front seat portion when the seat member is in the first position.
 20. The watercraft of claim 19, wherein the hinge is disposed toward a rear end of the seat, and a front edge of the seat member extends generally upwardly above the upper surface of the front seat portion when the seat member is in the second position.
 21. The watercraft of claim 20, wherein the front edge of the seat member is contoured to generally complementarily engage a rider's back when the seat member is in the second position.
 22. A small watercraft comprising a hull having a control portion and a rider's area, the rider's area comprising a longitudinally extending straddle-type seat comprising a front seat portion and a rear seat portion, the rear seat portion being movable relative to the front seat portion between a first configuration and a second configuration, the rear seat portion adapted so that a rider can ride the watercraft seated on the rear seat portion both when the rear seat portion is in the first configuration and when the rear seat portion is in the second configuration.
 23. A watercraft comprising a hull having a lower hull and an upper deck, the deck having a seating area, the seating area comprising a seat comprising a first seat portion and a second seat portion, the first seat portion being mechanically coupled to the deck so that the first seat portion is selectively movable independent of the second seat portion between a first position and a second position relative to the deck.
 24. The watercraft of claim 23, wherein the first seat portion is configured so that it generally remains in the selected position during operation of the watercraft.
 25. The watercraft of claim 23, wherein the first seat portion is tiltingly movable relative to the deck.
 26. The watercraft of claim 25, wherein the first seat portion is vertically movable relative to the deck. 